Chinese overtakes erstwhile leaders

MANILA, Philippines - Chinese Liang Wen-chong charged home with three birdies in the last five holes to shoot a five-under 67 and jump from joint 10th to the top of the heap – snatching a one-stroke lead over American David Lipsky and Malaysian Nicholas Fung as the erstwhile leaders, including Filipino Angelo Que, wilted in moving day in the Resorts World Manila Masters at the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

Liang, flaunting the form that netted him the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown in 2007, mastered the backside of the Masters course with another three-under card in the third round that shoved him past a slew of players and into the threshold of a victory in the $750,000 event with a 13-under 203.

“It was another great round and I’m happy that I managed to stay patient throughout the day,” said Liang, whose birdie on the 17th capped another solid stint at the backside of the hazard-laden layout which bit back after yielding a run of under-par scores in the first two days.

Liang shot a 33 at the back Thursday then followed it up with a 34 in the second round.

Lipsky missed joining Liang in the lead with a bogey on the 18th as he settled for a second 69 for a 204 in a tie with Fung, who slowed down with a two-under 70 after a tournament-best tying 64 in the second round.

But with two players staying just a shot back at 205 and another pair at 206 plus 10 more at 207, the battle for the top $135,000 purse is expected to be fierce and wide open.

“If you look at the leaderboard, the race is still wide open. Anything can happen and I just have to concentrate and hope things go my way tomorrow (today),” said Liang, who became the first and only Chinese golfer to make it to the world top 100 at No. 57 in 2010.

Que tumbled to the 207 group at eighth after a brief hold of the lead halfway through the championship as the three-time Asian Tour winner with a costly double bogey on the par-4 11th when he dumped his approach shot into the hazard fronting the green.

With two bogeys on Nos. 8 and 12 against a birdie on No. 4, the World Cup-bound Que needed to birdie the 18th to salvage a 74, his first over-par round after a 67 and 66, and regain some momentum heading to the final round of the 72-hole championship.

“That was certainly a better way to end it. At least, I am just four shots off the leader,” said Que, who also rolled in a 25-footer for par on the 17th. “I just couldn’t get the breaks I need but despite my 74, I didn’t play bad at all.”

He vowed to go for broke today but admitted it will be tough given the depth and talents of those ahead of him.